Lubricating system and/or apparatus



Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS 2,622,697

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/0R APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. C. HIGGENS LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS Dec. 23, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1949 Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS 2,622,697

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS 2,522,697

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 A v 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS 2,622,697

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/0R APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS 2,622,697

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 1414 7 M WNW Dec. 23, 1952 c. c. HIGGENS LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March 2, 1949 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 OFFICE.

LUBRICATING SYSTEM AND/OR APPARATUS Cecil Cyprian Higgens, Doncaster, England Application'March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,271 In Great Britain March 19, 1948 '9 Claims. 1 lhis invention relates to lubricating systems and/ or apparatus of the kind comprising distributing devices to which lubricant under pressure is supplied alternately through two feed lines. under the control of a change-over valve, each of said devices embodying a valve piston and an impeller piston operating inone direction or the other according to which feed line is in operation for the supply of lubricant under pressure, whereby lubricant is automatically delivered by the action of said impeller piston to a bearing point.

While the invention is of general application to such systems, it is of particular utility in systems wherein the distributing devices are adapted to operate in serial order in such manner that after each device is operated to deliver lubri cant to a bearing point, flow of lubricant under pressure is directed to the next distributing device in the series or to a return line.

ihe present invention has among its objects to provide distributing devices of improved construction for use in such systems, the distributing devices being of simple form and economical in manufacture, and of small size, and being adaptedfor assembly in groups without external piping to provide an improved lubricating system and/or apparatus embodying such distributing devices. An object is to provide a distributing device for use in lubricating systems and/ or apparatus of the type stated, the distributing device having the general form of a rectangular block with parallel flat sides at which inlet and outlet ports open, and valve and impeller pistons movable in cylindrical bores within the block to control the flow of the lubricant through the ports. An object is to provide distributing devices of the above-stated block form which may be assembled side-by-side to form a group occupying a minimum space and with the outlet ports of one block communicating with the inlet ports of an adjacent block, thereby to reduce or eliminate external pipe connections and units in multiple distributing device assemblies. Other objects are to provide, for use in lubricating systems having two feed lines alternately supplied with a lubricant under pressure, distributing devices comprising rectangular blocks within which valve and impeller pistons are movable in cylindrical bores parallel to opposite flat faces of the rectangular blocks, inlet ports at the opposite fiat faces and communicating with the opposite ends of the cylindrical bore of the valve piston, outlet ports at the opposite faces and communicating with the cylindrical bore of the impeller piston, the inlet and outlet ports associated with each lubricant feed line being at opposit faces of the respective rectangular blocks, and delivery ports for the discharge of the lubricant to bearings from opposite ends of the cylindrical bore of the impeller piston open at a side or edge of the respective blocks. More specifically, objects are to provide distributing devices of the character stated in which all of the rectangular blocks of an assembly are of identical construction, and apertured spacer plates or gaskets are arranged between adjacent blocks of an assembly to establish appropriate connections between the outlet ports of one block and the inlet ports of the adjacent blocks. Further objects are to provide, for association with one or more distributing devices of the stated block form, end members. forconnection to lubricant feed and returnlines, the end members having ports for communication, without use of pipe connections, with the. inlet and outlet ports of the distributing device block or blocks.

The invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig; 1 is a View illustrating the arrangement of a complet lubricating system including distributing devices according to the invention;

2 is a perspective view showing distributing devices according to the invention and illustrating the method of assembling a group thereof by the use; of slotted gaskets and end elements;

Fig. 3 is a sectional diagram illustrating a group of two distributing. devices and automatic changeover valve means, the parts being shown in the positions occupied at the commencement of cycle of operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the positions of the parts after the distributing devices have operated;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after the change-over valve means has operated 'for the commencement of flow through the groupt of distributing devices in the reverse direction;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after the distributing devices have operated in reverse order;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation illustrating a preferred construction of reservoir and pump unit;

Fig. 8' is a side elevation illustrating a preferred construction of the change-over valve means adapted for fitting into the lubricant reservoir; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation on the line IXIX of Fig. 7 showing a preferred construction of lubricant pump.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one embodiment, the improved lubricating system comprises two feed lines I, 2 (Fig. 1) connected to a source A of lubricant under pressure by valve means B whereby said feed lines may be placed in communication with the said source A alternately. The source A of lubricant under pressure may comprise a manually or poweroperated pump drawing lubricant from a supply vessel C and delivering it through the said valve means B to the feed lines I 2 alternately. Alternatively, the lubricant may be maintained under predetermined pressure in the supply vessel C by compressed air or mechanical means.

In one form the invention provides a simple hand-operated centralised lubrication system for all kinds of machinery, in which case a manuallyoperated pump may be used in conjunction with manually-operated change-over valve means. In another form the invention provides an automatic lubricating system which may be remote controlled, for example, to operate through one complete lubricating cycle only or at timed intervals, or continuously at a predetermined rate of input suitable for the requirements of the points to be lubricated. 2

Distributing devices, such as D, E, F, G, H, for delivering measured quantities of lubricant to the respective lubricating points are arranged in a group 01' groups, or otherwise connected in series in two closed circuits or pipe lines in which lubricant under pressure flows from and back to the valve means B alternately in opposite directions; one closed circuit including feed line I, connecting lines I between groups of distributing devices, and a return line 3 from the last distributing device, in the direction of flow of th pressure lubricant in that circuit, to the valve means B. Similarly, the other closed circuit includes feed line 2, connecting line 2', and return line 4. Each closed circuit, when not supplied with lubricant under pressure from valve device B, serves as a relief line for venting lubricant from the valve piston cylinders as the valve pistons are moved therein by pressure lubricant in the other closed circuit.

As shown in Fig. 2, each distributing device may comprise a block 5 faced on the upper and lower sides and having two parallel bores 5a, 51) therein disposed with their axes in a horizontal plane, the bores being closed at the ends by means of end caps or plugs (not shown) to form cylinders, one for a floating valve piston 6 and the other for a floating impeller piston 7. A passage 50 extending from one end of the valve cylinder 5a opens at the lower face of the block 5, and spaced from this end of the valve cylinder 5a is a port controlled by one end of the valve piston 6 and communicating through a passage 5d with the corresponding end of the impeller cylinder 5b. A port 5e displaced from the respective end of the impeller cylinder 5b and controlled by the impeller piston 1 communicates with a passage 5 opening at the upper face of the block 5. Similarly, the opposite end of the valve cylinder 5a communicates with a passage 5g opening at the upper face of the block 5, and a short distance from this end of the valve cylinder 5a a port controlled by the respective end of the valve piston communicates through a passage 571 with the respective end of the impeller cylinder Eb which is provided with a port 52' spaced from the end thereof and controlled by the impeller piston i, said port 52' communicating with a passage 57' extending downwards and opening at the lower face of the block 5. Thus, at one end the inlet through the port 50 for pressure fluid to the valve cylinder 5a is at the lower face of the block 5 and the respective exit passage 5f from the impeller cylinder 5b is at the upper face, while, in the other case, the inlet passage 5g for pressure fluid is at the upper face of the block 5 and the exit 57' from the impeller cylinder 51) at th lower face, lubricant under pressure alternately supplied to the two inlets 50, 5g from the respective feed lines I, 2 therefore passing through the distributing devices DI-I in opposite direction.

The valve piston 6 comprises two end parts 6a and an intermediate part to connected to th end parts by reduced shank portions 60. The intermediate part 612 of the piston 6 moves between two lubricant delivery ports 5k, 5m communicating with passages 5n extending to one sid face of the block 5 for the connection of delivery pipes 8, 8a (Fig. 3) to the lubricating points. Each end part Ea of the valve piston 6 is of such length that when the piston is at one end of its stroke determined by projecting stops 6d at the end thereof, or on the respective nd caps or plugs, the passage 501 (or 5h) at the other end of the valve cylinder 5a communicating with the impeller cylinder 5b is open and in free communication, through the passage or 5g, with the respective feed line I or 2, while the other passage 5h (or 5d) communicating with the respective end of the impeller cylinder 5b is open to the annular space surrounding the respective shank portion 60 of the valve piston and is therefore in communication with the respective lubricant delivery passage 511,.

In order to provide for an external indication of the operation of the valve piston 6, the same may be provided at one or each end with a stem 6e (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) projecting through a bore in an end cap sealing the end of the valve cylinder so that when the valve piston 6 is at one extreme end of its stroke, the end of the stem 6c is exposed to view outside the block 5, the end cap incorporating suitable leakage-preventing means. The stem 66 may be protected from damage by a suitable guard projecting from said end cap.

The impeller piston 7 is constituted by a single piston part, the stroke of which is limited by stops la projecting therefrom or from end caps or plugs of the cylinder 5b, the arrangement being such that at one end of its stroke, the impeller piston l uncovers the outlet 56 or 52' from the opposite end of the cylinder, and vice versa.

Adjustment of the delivery of each distributing device may be effected by substituting impeller pistons 'l of different length in conjunction with suitable stops limiting the stroke of the piston so that in one extreme position or the other it just uncovers the respective outlet port 5e, 51' from the impeller cylinder 5?) communicating with the respective return line 3, 4. Thus, an impeller piston of short length, as in the unit H of Fig. 3, is utilised in conjunction with comparatively long stops Ta, so as to have a short stroke, while an impeller piston 7 of greater length, as in the unit G of Fig. 3, is used in conjunction with relatively short stops 1a to provide for correspondingly increased stroke and delivery of an increased amount of lubricant.

Any desired number of such distributing devices maybe connected together in series. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, two or more of the blocks 5 may be applied one against the other with the interposition between each two adjacent blocks of a spacer plate or gasket 9 provided with slots 9a arranged for the connection of the outlet passage or 57 in the respective face of one block to the inlet passage lie or in the respective face of the adjacent block so that when one distributing device has operated to deliver lubricant to an associated lubricating point, lubricant under pressure passes through the outlet passage 5, or Iii uncovered by the impeller piston l to the respective end of the valve cylinder 5c of the next distributing device for its operation in a similar manner, and so on through the series until finally the lubricant under pressure asses to the return line 3 or 4 of the feed line I or 2 which is at the time under pressure. The application of pressure to the return line 3 or t in this manner may be caused to operate suitable indicating means showing that the series of distributing devices D-H have completed one cycle of operations, or, in the case of an automatically operating system, the pressure in the return line 3 or i is utilised for the operation of change-over valve means whereby lubricant under pressure is automatically directed to the other feed line for operation of the series of distributing devices in reverse order.

It will be understood that each distributing device delivers lubricant alternately to two lubricating points through the pipes 5, 3a (Figs. 1 and 3 to 6). If the machine with which the system is associated has an odd number of lubricating points, or if it should be desirable to lubricate one particular point more frequently, the two lubricant delivery ports 5m may be connected so that one lubricating point receives lubricant in each direction of travel of the impeller piston i. For this purpose the spacer plate or gasket 5 associated with the face of the distributing device at which the delivery ports open, may be formed with a slot lib (Fig. 2) for establishing communication between additional passages 5p opening at one face of the block 5 and communicating with the passages 5n, one of which is closed off at the end while the other is connected to the pipe 8 or 8a. Alternatively, the middle portion lib of the piston E5 may be reduced in diameter so that the outlets 5d, 5h from the cylinder 51) of the impeller piston i may communicate alternately with one of the outlets 5n, the other outlet he being sealed off. In this arrangement the ports 5k, 5m are at all times in free communication with the annular space between the end portions (id of the piston 6.

The inlet and outlet passages 50, 5 and 59, 59' in the blocks 5 may be tapped or otherwise adapted for the connection of the feed and return lines I, 2 and 3, 4 respectively, or of pipes I, 2 (Fig. 1) extending between individual distributing devices or between groups thereof. Preferably, however, in order to avoid the necessity of tapping the said openings in each block 5, a series thereof assembled with intervening spacer plates or gaskets 9 in the manner described may be completed by terminal elements IEI having openings Illa in one face coinciding with the openings in the respective face of the adjacent distributing device or connected therewith by means of a gasket 9, the openings in the terminal element communicating with tapped fittings (not shown) for the convenient connection of the feed and return lines. The elements II) may have lugs Illb to facilitate mounting of the assemblage on a suitable base or support.

It will be understood that owing to the arrangement of the valve and impeller cylinders 5a,

5b with their axes in a horizontal plane, the distributing devices can be in the form of blocks 5 of very shallow depth from face to face and, thus, will occupy the minimum of space.

The automatic change-over valve means B may comprise a floating piston valve II which controls the connection of the feed lines I, 2 alternately to the pump A and, through the passages I I (Figs. 3 to 6), to relief, a second floating piston I2 controlling the connection of the return lines 3, 4 alternately to opposite ends of a cylinder I5lc in which a third piston valve l3 operates to control the supply of lubricant under pressure from the pump A to one end or the other of the cylinders I500, I559 in which the respective piston valves II and I2 operate. The piston valves II, I2 and I3 advantageously are incorporated in a single block or body B.

The first piston valve II comprises a floating piston having two end parts I la and an intermediate part Ilb connected by reduced shank portions lie and also having end stops lld. The cylinder [5a in which the piston ll operates has an inlet port I52) for lubricant under pressure at a middle position in its length, said inlet being controlled by the middle part Ilb of the piston Il so that the lubricant under pressure delivered from the pump A through a line I6 to the inlet port Itb may be directed to one or the other of spaced ports I50, ltd in constant communication with the annular spaces around the said shank portions He and leading to the respective feed lines I, 2. Towards each end of the cylinder I5a an outlet port I56, I5 communicates, as will be hereinafter described, with a relief return to the reservoir or supply vessel C or, under the control of the piston valve IS, with the supply line I6. The arrangement is such that when one feed line, for instance I, is in communication with the pump A, the other feed line 2 is in communication with the respective relief passage I 4, or vice versa. A pressure relief valve I! is connected between the supply line It and the lubricant reservoir C or, as shown schematically in Figs. 3 to 6, between the supply line It and one of the relief passages Id.

The second piston valve I2 comprises a cylinder and piston of substantially the same form as the first valve and having similar parts l2a, I21), I20, I 201. The piston valve I2 operates in a cylinder I59, but in this case the middle port I571 .is connected through a relief return passage I4b to the reservoir or supply vessel, which passage Illb, under the control of the middle part I22) of the piston I2, is placed in communication alternately with passages I5i, I57 leading to opposite ends of the cylinder I570 of the piston valve I 3. Passages I5m, I511 of the cylinder I5g communicate with the respective return lines 3, 4 and the piston I2 is arranged so that in one extreme position, one return line 3 is connected through the passages l5m and I57 to the respec tive end of the cylinder I570, while the other return line 4 communicating with the passage I5n is blocked by the respective part l2a of the piston I2. In the other extreme position of the piston l2 the return line communicates through the passages I 5n and I 52' with the opposite end of the cylinder Ilik and the other return line 3 is lioocked by the respective parts I2a of the piston The third piston valve I3 is similar to the pistons II and I2 and is provided with similar parts I3a, I319, I30 and ltd. A port I51; at a .middle position communicates with the supply line It, this port I511 being controlled by the middle part I3b of the piston I3 whereby lubricant under pressure is directed alternately through a port I58 and passage I57 to the port I57 of the cylinder Ia, or through a port I52 and passage I533 to a port I511 at one end of the cylinder I59. In addition to the passages I51, I57 communicating with the ends of the cylinder I5lc, intermediate ports are provided to communicate with relief return passages Ma. The outlet port I5e from the cylinder I5a is connected by means of a passage I 5p with a port I5q opening into the cylinder I5g. A port IE1? at the opposite end of the cylinder I5 communicates through a passage I5u with a port [5w opening into the cylinder I5a. One of the piston valves, preferably the piston valve I2, advantageously is provided with an extension I2g which extends through a bore to the outside of the block I5 through suitable sealing means (not shown) to provide an indication of the operation of the change-over means. Furthermore, if desired, the operation of the piston valves II and I2 may be retarded or slowed down by the provision of extensions IIe, I2e on the respective pistons carrying discs II), 12 respectively immersed in lubricant in the supply vessel or reservoir C.

Any suitable form of pump and lubricant supply unit may be employed. Preferably, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, a lubricant reservoir is provided in the form of a rectangular box casting 53 housing both the pump A and the changeover valve means B. The casting I8 may have a circular recess Ifla at the top for the reception of an interchangeable supply vessel or container C in the form of a cylinder IQ of metal or plastic material. A metal or other cover ISa is fitted on the top of the cylinder it, and the casting l8, cylinder I9 and cover 59a are held securely l together by means such as threaded rods lQb extending through the cover and provided with nuts ISc for clamping the parts together. The cylinder I9 is provided with a plunger Illd mounted on a rod ISe extending through the cover l-Qa and, particularly in the case of thick lubricant such as grease, a spring l9 may be provided for exerting an initial pressure on the lubricant in the cylinder Hi. When the cylinder I 9 is empty it may be readily replenished by means of a portable container, the lubricant be ing transferred by pumping through a suitable non-return coupling device (not shown) in the casting 18.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 8, the body part I5 of the change-over valve means is provided at one end with a circular flange I50 whereby the change-over valve unit B may be mounted, as shown in Fig. '7, to extend within the casting l8.

Referring to Fig. 8, the connections from the respective ports Ilic, i512, passages Him, I511. and the supply and return lines I, 2, 3, 4 are effected by means of external pipes, Ia, 2a, 3a, 4a disposed below the body l5 and communicating with suitably disposed openings in the flange 550. The relief valve 2? also may extend at the bottom of the body I5. Furthermore, the communicating passages between the respective ports of the change-over valve means may be constituted by external pipe connections at the top of the valve body IE or may be otherwise arranged, for instance, within the valve body as desired.

As shown in Fig. 9, the pump A preferably is of the double-acting type and comprises two plungers 20, a coacting with aligned bores I81), I 80 respectively formed in the base casting I8 and preferably lined with a wear-resisting renewable liner. Inlet ports 202) may be constituted by holes opening directly into the base of the supply cylinder I9. Outlet ports (not shown) at the ends of the bores I81), I 80 communicate through suitable non-return valves with a delivery passage parallel with the bores I81), I80 and communicating with the delivery pipe line I6 communicating through a suitable fitting in the flange I with the appropriate passage in the valve body l5. The pump plungers 20, 20a are adapted for connection, as by means of pins 280, with a rack element 2| sliding in a slotted plate 58d, the connection between the plungers and the rack element being preferably adapted to accommodate any mal-alignment of the bores I812, I80.

The rack element 2| may be reciprocated by a toothed segment 22 keyed to a driving shaft 22a positioned centrally with respect to the two pump bores I81), I Be and extending through a bearing cap I8e which locates a suitable combination of ball bearings housed within a thickened part of the side wall of the base I 8. Alternatively, the bearing cap may itself form a bearing brush. For manual operation a vertically disposed hand lever 23 is keyed to the extending part of the shaft 22a, while, for motor or other power drive, a shorter arm adapted to reciprocating motion would be fitted. The shaft 2a extends through a suitable seal to prevent leakage of lubricant.

The system hereinbefore described operates in the following manner:

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the output from the pump A communicates through the supply line I6 and the ports I5b and I 50 with the feed line I from which lubricant under pressure passes through the passage 5c into the right-hand end of the cylinder 5a of the unit G. The piston 6 thereupon moves to the left, thereby placing the passage 5m in communication with the port 5h from the impeller cylinder 5b. During this movement of the piston 6 lubricant trapped in front thereof returns to the reservoir by way of the passage 59, the passage 5 of the unit H, the port 52', passage 5h, cylinder 5a through the passage 59, feed line 2 and port I5d to the right-hand passage I4 in the block I5. The piston 6 of unit G having moved to the left opens the passage 5d leading to the right-hand end of the cylinder 5b, whereupon the piston 1 moves to the left and opens the port 5e communicating with the passage 5) leading to the passage 50 of unit H. The movement of the impeller piston I to the left first shuts the port 52' and then forces a measured quantity of lubricant from the cylinder 512 through the passage 5h and port 5m to the pipe 8a leading to a lubricating point.

In a similar manner the piston Ii of the unit H is caused to move to the left to permit of flow of lubricant under pressure through the passage 5d into the right-hand end of the impeller cylinder 5b which is thereby moved to the left so that, after closing the port 52', a measured quantity of lubricant is forced through the passage bit and port 5m into the respective delivery pipe 8a of unit H.

The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 4 and it will be seen that the feed line I is in free communication with the return line 3 through the passages 50, 5d, ports 52 and passages Furthermore, the return line 4 is blocked by the respective end part 52a of the piston I2.

Referring to Fig. i, lubricant flowing under pressure through the return line 3 passes through a passage |5m and the passage i5 into the righthand end of the cylinder ltlc. The piston I3 is thereby moved to the left, lubricant trapped in front of the piston l3 returning to the reservoir by way of the passage I51, port I571 and passage Mb. By this movement of the piston it, a port I communicating with the supply line is is placed in communication with a port [53 which communicates, through a passage i5), with a port IEif opening into the right-hand end of the cylinder [5a. The piston H now moves to the left while the lubricant trapped in front thereof escapes into the reservoir by way of the port H55, passage I512, ports I iiq, i511 and R52 to the respective passage Mia. The movement of the piston H to the left also places the port it!) in com-- munication with the port i5d so that lubricant under pressure from the line it passes to the feed line 2, while at the same time the feed line i connected to the port 150 is placed in communication with the respective passage it leading to the reservoir. Movement of the piston I i to the left also opens a port liiw communicating with a passage ibu leading to the port 6572 opening into the right-hand end of the cylinder iE-g, whereby the piston i2 is caused to move to the left, whereby placing the return line A in communication with the left-hand end of the piston 13 by Way of the passages iiin, Eat and at the same time blocking the passage itm connected to the return line 3.

The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 5 and lubricant under pressure passing through the feed line 2 enters ti e passage 59 of the unit H, thereby causing movement of the piston 6 to the right and thus opening the passage 5h communicating with the left-hand end of the impeller cylinder Lubricant trapped in front of the piston 6 returns to the reservoir by way of the passage tic, the passage 5i and port be in the unit G, the passages 5d and 5c, feed line i and port Eric, to the respective passage i i. At the same time communication between the passage 5d and the port at of unit H is established so that on movement of the impeller piston 1 thereof to the right, a measured quantity of lubricant is discharbed from the cylinder 5?: to the pipe 8 of unit H leading to a lubricating point. The movement of the impeller piston l to the right opens the port 52' so that lubricant under pressure flows through the passage 57' of the unit H to the passage 59/ in the unit G leading to the left-hand end of the'cylin der 5a in that unit. The piston t of unit G is thereby moved to the right, lubricant trapped in front thereof being removed by way of the passage Ec, feed line i and port H50 to the passage M, and on opening of the passage 5h lubricant flows into the left-hand end of the impeller cylinder 51) whereby the piston 1 moves to the right for the discharge of a measured quantity of lubricant through the passage 5d and port bit to the respective pipe 8 of unit G leading to a lubricating point. The ports 57c, 5m communicate with the pipes 8, 8a respectively through passages 5p, 5n.

The parts are now in the positions shown in Fig. 6, it being understood that the group of distributing devices comprising the units G and H has completed one cycle of operation for the supply of lubricant to four lubricating points. The feed line 2 is now in free communication with the return line 4 by way of the passages 5h, 57' and So and thus lubricant under pressure can flow through the passage l5n and passage iiii into the left-hand end of the cylinder this, thereby causing the piston l3 to move to the right, during which movement lubricant trapped in front of the piston discharges through the passafe [67' to the return passage Hib. This movement of the piston is places the port 521 in communication with the port Hie communicating with the passage I53: leading to the port i531 at the left-hand end of the cylinder 559. At the same time the port 15s communicating with the right-hand end of the cylinder 15a is placed in communication with the respective return passage Hia. The piston l2 thereupon moves to the right, thereby placing the return line 3 in communication with the right-hand end of the cylinder ibis by way of the passages 55m, I57 and at the same time blocking oi? the passage i571. communicating with the return line i. Lubricant trappedin front of the piston 52 escapes by way of the port Ibt, passage l5LL, ports i5w, I57, passage [5r and port lbs to the respective return passage Ma. The port iq is now open and the lubricant under pressure passes through the passage Hip to the port 55c leading to the left-hand end of the cylinder lea, whereby the piston i l is moved to the right, lubricant trapped in front thereof escaping through the port 15 passage E51" and port 15s to the respective return passage E ia. This movement of the piston H places the port 50 communicating with the feed line i in communication with the port i517 leading from the supply line It and at the same time places the feed line 2 in communication with the respective return passage M.

The parts of the change-over valve unit are now in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the distributing units G and H will commence the next cycle of operations for the supply of measured quantities of lubricant to the respective delivery pipes 8 and 8a.

The projecting members 66 of the piston 6 give visual indication of the operation of the units G and H, while the projecting member lZg of the piston 12 gives indication of the proper operation of the change-over valve unit. More particularly in the case of thick grease, the discs I If, If submerged in lubricant in the reservoir or supply vessel C serve to retard the movement of the pistons H and I2 to ensure fall movement of the piston l3 so that the port I51) controlled thereby will be fully opened at each operation.

It will be noted that the arrangement of the distributing device is such that the outlet passage 5 or 57' from one impeller cylinder to the next distributing device or to the respective return line 3 or 4 is blocked during movement of the impeller piston I to close the respective port 5e or iii and thereafter to deliver lubricant to the respective lubricating point.

Referring, for example, to Fig. 5, it will be seen that when the impeller piston l of the unit H moves to the right, the return line connected to the passage 5 and port 5e is blocked by the right-hand end portion lZa of the piston 12. After the unit H has operated and the impeller piston l of the unit G moves to the right, the passage 5 is blocked by reason of the fact that the passage 50 in the unit H is closed off by the respective piston 6 which is held in the right-hand position by the pressure of the lubricant on the opposite end thereof.

The apparatus above described is adapted for effective lubrication of a number of points by simple operation of a manual pump, the completion of a cycle of operation being indicated by the projection or retraction of the indicating member l2g. If desired, however, the pump may be power-driven, for example, by an electric motor, or from part of the machine with which the lubricating system is associated, and timing of the operation of the pump or the automatic changeover valve means may be efiected in any suitable manner under the control of electrical or mechanical means. Thus, the system may be operated intermittently under the control of a time switch or the like, or may be continuously operated, in which case the pump output is adjusted to suit the lubricating requirements of the machine with which the system is associated.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment hereinbefore described. For example, the distributing devices may be otherwise constructed in any suitable manner. Thus, the connecting passages 9a, 9b (Fig. 2) instead of being formed by slots in the spacer plates or gaskets 9, may be formed in the blocks or bodies of the distributing devices themselves. Furthermore, it will be understood that the series of distributing devices in a system may comprise individual distributing devices or two or more groups thereof connected together in series by suitable pipe connections I, 2 (as shown in Fig. l).

I claim:

1. A lubricant distributing device for use in a lubricating system of the type including two feed lines alternately supplied with lubricant under pressure to establish flow of the lubricant alternately in opposite directions through one or more distributing devices and back to a reservoir; said distributing device comprising a block having opposite and parallel surfaces, said block being provided with a pair of bores constituting piston-receiving cylinders, a valve piston and an impeller piston in the respective cylinders, means including an inlet port at each of said opposite surfaces for providing passages for introducing lubricant under pressure into the valve piston cylinder to displace said valve piston in opposite directions according to the feed line which is supplied with lubricant under pressure, an outlet port at each of said opposite surfaces and means providing passages between said cylinders and controlled jointly by said pistons for introducing lubricant under pressure into said impeller piston cylinder to displace the impeller piston as the valve piston approaches each of the end positions and to establish free communication between its inlet port and its associated outlet port at the respective end positions of said impeller piston.

2. A lubricant distributing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the axes of said bores constituting piston-receiving cylinders are parallel to said opposite surfaces of the block.

3. A lubricant distributing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said block is provided with discharge passages for the delivery of lubricant from opposite ends of the impeller piston cylinder to points to be lubricated, said discharge passages terminating at discharge ports at one side of said block.

4. A lubricant distributing device as recited in claim 3, wherein said discharge passages include said passages between said cylinders.

5. A lubricant distributing device as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said pistons is provided with an extension projecting outside of said block at one end position thereof, thereby to afford a visual indication of the operation of said dev1ce.

6. A lubricating device as recited in claim 1, in combination with a spacer to be positioned at one face of said block to establish connections to a similar block, said spacer having passages therein for connecting each outlet port of the adjacent surfaces of the blocks to the inlet port of the other block.

'7. An assembly of lubricant distributing devices for use in a lubricating system of the type including two feed lines alternately supplied with lubricant under pressure to establish a, flow of the lubricant alternately in opposite directions through distributing devices and back to a reservoir; said assembly including a plurality of rectangular blocks of identical design and each provided with a pair of bores constituting cylinders in which are located respectively a valve piston and an impeller piston, inlet ports at 0pposite parallel surfaces of the respective blocks and communicating with opposite ends of the valve piston cylinder, outlet ports at opposite parallel surfaces of the respective blocks and communicating with spaced ports of the impeller piston cylinder, lubricant distributing outlets at one side of each block and communicating with spaced ports of the valve piston cylinder, and spacer means between adjacent blocks, said spacer means having passages therein for connecting the outlet ports of each of said adjacent blocks to the inlet ports of the other adjacent block.

8. An assembly of lubricant distributing devices as recited in claim 7, in combination with end units at opposite sides of the assembly of blocks, said end units having ports provided with means for connection to feed and return lines, and means providing passages between said ports of the end units and the respective inlet and outlet ports at the outer surfaces of said assembly of blocks.

9. An assembly of lubricant distributing devices as recited in claim 8, wherein said passageproviding means includes spacers between said end units and the block assembly, said spacers having slots therethrough for interconnecting the several ports.

CECIL CYPRIAN HIGGENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,007,156 Burrell July 9, 1935 2,105,595 Hillis Jan. 18, 1938 2,141,022 Rotter Dec. 20, 1938 2,206,335 Rotter July 2, 1940 2,260,497 Whitted Oct. 28, 1941 2,440,411 Leonard Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 394,944 Great Britain Sept. 28, 1931 

